Honda’s small Civic saloon became the US’s top-selling vehicle last month, overtaking Ford’s F-Series pick-up truck, which has worn the crown for the past 26 years.

The F-Series was also outsold by Toyota’s Corolla and Camry saloons, and by the Honda Accord, highlighting a stampede by Americans away from big sports utility vehicles and pick-up trucks to less fuel-thirsty cars in the wake of the soaring fuel price.